Self-cleaning filter.



"15,647,682 Patented Apr. I7, |909.

n. c. REED. SELF CLEANINGFILTEB.

(Application led Nov28, 1899.)

(Np Model.)

NITED STATES VParietti OFFICE.

RUDOLPH C. REED, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF TIVO- THIRDS TO HERMANN ZADIG AND MOSES BLUM, OF SAME PLACE.

SELF-CLEANING FILTER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 647,682, dated April 17', 1900.

Application filed November 23,1899. Serial No. 737,981. (No model.)

To all whom, t nca/y concern:

Be it known thatA I, RUDOLPH C. REED, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco,State of California, have invented an Improvement in Self-Cleaning Filters; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to a filtering apparatus; and it has for its object such a construcl tion of filter that unfiltered water can be drawn directly through the apparatus or the water may be filtered and stored for use, and the fiow of water through the filter may be reversed in conjunction with a direct cleansing fiow over the surface to be cleaned.

My invention consists of a easing, a hollow porous filter xed therein, so as to leave asurrounding annular space in which spirally-disposed ribs or flanges carried by and removable with the filter are interposed, so that a fiow of water is made to follow the spirals around the periphery of the filter from. the inlet to the discharge when desired. Through the interior of the filter passes a perforated pipe, one end of which is connected with a discharge and through this with a reservoir in which the filtered water is stored and subjected to air-pressure, which aerates and assists in discharging it when drawn, and it also serves to flush the filtered water through the walls of the filter to the outside when the direct-discharge cock is opened to assist in cleansing the filter.

Myinvention also comprises details of construction which Will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lis a sectional View of the filter and the vessel for containing filtered water. Fig. 2 shows another form of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a view of the filter with exterior and intcrior spiral ribs and constructed to be reversed.

A is the filter-case, which may be made of metal or other material of any suitable or desired size and preferably cylindrical in form. Within this is a filter 2, which may be made of porous stone or other suitable porous filtering material, of the same shape as the outer case and of sufficiently-smaller diameter to leave an annular channel around it when it is in position. This filter is tubular, and through the interior a loosely-tting perforated pipe or column Spasses from end to end of the outer chamber. The ends of the filter 2 abut against suitable washers 4f, 'and a cap 5 screws or is otherwise secured upon the end of the casing, so as to fit snugly and hold all the parts in position.

As shown in Fig. 1, the filtering is designed to take place from the outside to the inside of the filter, and in this construction a supply-pipe G opens into the outer chamber near the top, and a discharge-faucet 7 connects with it near the bottom, both opening into the annular space which surrounds the filter. Between the filter and the interior of the case a spiral channel is formed which passes many times around the filter. This channel is formed by ribs 8, which fit snugly between lthe filter and the casing. These ribs may be formed or secured to the interior of the casing or by a flexible substance coiled around the exterior of the filter, so that the filter and the spiral ribs maybe introduced to or withdrawn from the casing together. The object of this spiral channel is to cause the water which flows from the supply-pipe 6 to the dischargefaucet?V to pass around the filter, following the spiral channel, and thus wash off the exterior of the filter whenever water is drawn.

W'hen Water is to be used for ordinary purposes, in whiehfiltering is not required, it will be seen that when the faucet 7 is opened the Water will fiow around the spiral channel and be discharged'through the faucet. At the same time the current will be so rapid as to continually wash off the surfaceof the filter and prevent the adherence of sediment or other matter which might foul the lter.

When the faucet 7 is closed, there will be a sufficient pressure of water within the casing to gradually force itself through the walls of the filtering material 2,and the Water which thus percolates through the filter passes through the holes in the interior pipe or passage 3, and from this pipe itis conveyed into the receiver 9. This receiver is so constructed that air would be contained in lthe upper part or in connection therewith, and as the Water which enters this receiver under the ICO the vfiltered water through the pipe 3 and outwardly through the walls of the filter, because while thisfaucet 7 is open the water is running freely through the spiral passage around the filter and with little or no pressure upon its surface; but the water stored under pressure will tend to force its way outthrough the filter-walls, andthis, in conjunction with the current passing around the outside, will thoroughly `cleanse the filter whenl everfthe faucet 7 is opened.

maintained in a clean condition, v and experience has shown. that when used in .watersA heavily charged with tine clay sediment, which ordinarily clogs all filters, this o ne will be kept sufficiently clean, and filtered watercan always be obtained from it.

rAs shown in Fig. 1, the discharge from the central pipe 8 is upwardly. As shown in Fig. 2, the discharge is connected with the bottom and may be conveyed by a pipe`of any suitable .length tothe receiver 9, which may thusbe placed at a d c considerable distance from the lter.

apparatus may be reversed from that shown in Fig. l-that is, the supply of water is delivered inte `the center of the filter and discharges outwardly through the filter 2,thence fiowing around the annular chamber exterior to the filter to the discharge-pipe which leads to the receiver and which in this case would V connect with this outside chamber..` When constructed in this manner, the spirally-disposed ri-bs would pass between the inner tn be and the interior of the tubular filter, as the inner surface would be the oneto be cleansed in such a construction.

By using spiral ribs 8 interior and exterior to the filter and using suitable connectingpipes yand cocks 12 the inlet-water may be delivered either outside or inside the filter and ghe apparatus made reversible, as shown in is. 3. f Y Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is` 'v l. A tubular filter comprising an exterior case having an annular space between itself and the outside of the filter, spirally-disposed ribs carried by the filter and removable therewith, and extending from top to bottom of said space and forming a channel through which water under pressure flows in contact with the filter-surface, a supply connecting with one end of said channel and a discharge with the other, a central column within the c The filter is thus filter and connections through which filtered Wateris withdrawn therefrom.

2.,A filter comprising an exterior case, a tubular porous filter fixed therein, with an annular space andspirally-disposed ribs surrounding the filter, a supply-pipe connecting with the upper end of the spiral channel thus formed,` a discharge-faucet connecting with the lower end, an interior perforated pipe to receive the water forced through the filter duringthe time when the exterior dischargecock is closed, a receiver into which the filtered water under pressure is forced, said receiver having an air-chamber formed or connected with the upper part thereof and a draw-off cock or passage opening into the lower part.

3. A self-cleansing filter consisting of an exterior case, with supply-passage at the top' through which water is admitted under pressure, a ltubular porous filter fitting Within the case, ribs surrounding -said filter, forming a spiral channel throughwhich water from the supply-passage flows, a perforated -tube fitting loosely within the filter, and connecting with an air-.chambered receiver into which filtered water is forced under pressure, a discharge-passage connecting with the exterior spiral chamber through which water may be drawn directly to relieve pressure upon the outsideof the filter whereby the air-pressure from the receiver will force ltered water outwardly through the Walls `of the filter during Y v, the flow through the spiral channel. If desired, the flow of waterthrough the 4. A filter including an exterior case, a centrally-,disposedcolumn anda tubular filter of porous material fitting between said case and column, a water supply and discharge at opposite portions of the tubular filter and means carried by and removable with the filter whereby Water is caused to travel along said vfilter in spiral lines and thereby cleanse the surface .over whichit passes.

5. A filter including an exterior casea centrally-disposed column, a tubular body of filtering material within the case and means carried by and removable with the filter and including spiral ribs forming a channel along which the water flows in spiral lines to automatically maintain the filter-surface clean, means for supplying Water to one end of the spiral passage andl means whereby the water may be withdrawn from said passage.

6. A filter including a tubular filtering medium, an inclosing case therefor, a spiral pas-1 sage formed about and removable with the d filter-surface and along which the water flows to automatically cleanse said surface, and means for admitting water to and discharging it from said passage.

IOO

IIO

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my I RUDOLPH C. REED.

hand.

Witnesses: v

S. H. NoURsE, JEssIE C. BRonlE. 

